Veramyst- New steroid for countering allergic rhinitis

Company:

GlaxoSmithKline

Pharmacologic class:

Corticosteroid

Active ingredient:

Fluticasone furoate 27.5 µg/spray;
alcohol-free.

Indication:

Seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis.

Pharmacology:

Fluticasone furoate is a
synthetic trifluorinated corticosteroid with potent anti-inflammatory activity. The exact mechanism by which this corticosteroid exerts its effects in the treatment of allergic rhinitis is unknown.

Although significant improvement with Veramyst is usually achieved within 24 hours in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and four days in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis, maximum benefit may not be reached for several days.

Clinical trials:

The efficacy and safety of Veramyst was evaluated in five randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of two to four weeks’ duration involving 1,829 patients ≥12 years old with symptoms of seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis.

Assessment of efficacy was based on total nasal symptom score. Secondary efficacy variables included the total ocular symptom score (TOSS) and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ). In each study, Veramyst was shown to be more effective than placebo in relieving overall nasal allergy symptoms. In addition, three seasonal allergy studies showed that Veramyst was significantly better than placebo in relieving ocular symptoms and in providing a significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall RQLQ; these effects were not seen in the perennial allergic rhinitis trials. In all studies, Veramyst sustained its effectiveness for a full 24 hours.

Veramyst was also shown to be effective in treating overall nasal symptoms in children 2-11 years old with seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis. Changes in TOSS in the seasonal allergic rhinitis trial were not statistically significant; TOSS was not assessed in the perennial allergic rhinitis trial.

Adults:

Initially two sprays in each nostril once daily. Maintenance: may reduce to one spray in each nostril daily.

Children:

2 years: not recommended. 2-11 years: initially one spray in each nostril once daily; may increase to two sprays in each nostril once daily. Maintenance: one spray in each nostril once daily.

ClinicalAdvisor.com is for nurse practitioners and physician assistants, offering the latest information on diagnosing, treating, managing, and preventing medical conditions typically seen in the office-based primary-care setting.

Find all of the news and departments you love from the print issue archived for easy online access, along with special Web-only content.